Evaluation of hospital referral notes for pulmonary function tests at tertiary care teaching hospital in Oman

Joint Authors

al-Hashmi, Khamis
al-Hanai, Ruqayah
al-Jabiri, Anan
Al Sinawi, Nasrah
Jothi, Balaji
Jaju, Deepali
al-Rajaibi, Hajir

Source

Oman Medical Journal

Issue

Vol. 35, Issue 1 (31 Jan. 2020)5 p.

Publisher

Oman Medical Specialty Board

Publication Date

2020-01-31

Country of Publication

Oman

No. of Pages

5

Main Subjects

Medicine

Abstract EN

There is substantial increase in referrals for investigations at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH).

Evaluating the quality of hospital referral notes (RNs) is necessary from diagnostic, patient, and economic perspectives.

RNs for pulmonary function tests (PFTs) can be considered as representative of the array of tests performed at SQUH.

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the quality of RNs based on ‘completeness’ for all consecutive patients referred for PFTs at SQUH over six months.

Evaluation included documentation of demographic features, RNs date, priority for investigation, referral reason, pulmonary and relevant medical and smoking history for spirometry RNs, and addition of hemoglobin level for full lung functions (Full-LuFs) tests.

The proportion of complete RNs was determined and analyzed separately to study association of spirometry and full-LuFs tests with source and reasons for referral.

Results: Only 644 of 683 RNs were available for analysis.

Smoking history was stated in only 3.3% of all RNs; hence, it was excluded from the analysis.

RNs were complete only in 12.4% of cases for spirometry and 14.4% for full-LuFs tests.

RNs for patients who primarily had pulmonary disease were proportionately incomplete than those for patients with other reasons (p < 0.050).

There was no significant association between incompleteness of RNs and referral hospital (SQUH vs.

non-SQUH) and SQUH inpatient or outpatient status implying that the overall proportion of completeness of RNs from all concerned referral locations was similar and low in both types of RNs.

Conclusions: There is a need to improve the quality of RNs at SQUH.

Referring doctors must be made aware of the importance of completeness of RNs to improve test reporting, patient management and satisfaction, and reduce financial burden on hospital exchequer.

American Psychological Association (APA)

al-Hanai, Ruqayah& al-Jabiri, Anan& Jothi, Balaji& Al Sinawi, Nasrah& al-Rajaibi, Hajir& al-Hashmi, Khamis…[et al.]. 2020. Evaluation of hospital referral notes for pulmonary function tests at tertiary care teaching hospital in Oman. Oman Medical Journal،Vol. 35, no. 1.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-955171

Modern Language Association (MLA)

al-Hanai, Ruqayah…[et al.]. Evaluation of hospital referral notes for pulmonary function tests at tertiary care teaching hospital in Oman. Oman Medical Journal Vol. 35, no. 1 (Jan. 2020).
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-955171

American Medical Association (AMA)

al-Hanai, Ruqayah& al-Jabiri, Anan& Jothi, Balaji& Al Sinawi, Nasrah& al-Rajaibi, Hajir& al-Hashmi, Khamis…[et al.]. Evaluation of hospital referral notes for pulmonary function tests at tertiary care teaching hospital in Oman. Oman Medical Journal. 2020. Vol. 35, no. 1.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-955171

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-955171